Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1887-09-02
SUNDRY NOTES.
From American Cultivator.l

DreeuerS CnaU III cOmpelleu 10 choose De-
tween the produce of first-class stallion
and common mare, or that of common
stallion and frst-class mare, they would
prefer the latter. They believe that the
influence of the dam in determining the
character of the offspring is greater than
that OF the sire. This belief, however, is
contrary to that shared by some writers
of large experience and close observation.
1t is generally admitted that the Arabs
have exercised greater care in breeding
horses than any other people in the world
and they are supposed to understand the
science of breeding better to-day than
the most enlightened nation in any quar-
ter of the globe. They are very particu-
lar in the selection of their stock, and
are supposed by some to prize their mares
more highly than their stations. Speak
ing upon this point, the well-known Eng
fish author, F. r. Welsh (Stonehenge).
in his work entitled 1.-THE Horse in the
Stable and the Field" remarks that this
idea is said to be unfounded by the cele-
brated Abd-el Kader, who, in highly in
teresting letter to Gen. Damuas, writes as
follows:
SIT is true that the foal proceeds both
from the sire and dam, but the experience
of ages has proved that the essential parts
of the body such as the bones, the tendons,
the nerves and the veins, proceed always
from the sire. This is beyond all doubt
malady specially belonging to the bones
under which the sire may be suffering at
the time that foals are produced will be
perpetuated in his offspring, such as
splints, bone and blood spavins, the shape
of the bones and all diseases of the verte-
bral column. The dam may give to her
produce color and certain amount of
resemblance in form, the foal naturally
partaking of some of the qualities
of the animal which had so long
borne it; but it is an incontestible fact
that it is the sire which gives strength to
the bones, substance to the tendons, vigor
to the nerves, rapidity of pace, in short,
all the principal qualities. He also COM
municates what may be called moral
qualities, and if he be unquestionably of
high blood the foal is preserved from
vice.
"Our fathers have said "a horse of noble
race has no vices. An Arab will lend
his stallion gratuitously. To hire out a
stud for money is in the eyes of an Arab
an unworthy action. and is contrary to
the generosity for which he is renowned
although the law allows it, have never
known an instance of it. But though the
Arab lends his stud horse gratuitously
he does not do this to the first conner nor
to every mare. No; the suppliant is
often obliged to make use of the inter-
cession of persons of great interest, OF
even of his wines, if he would not see his
request refused. On the other hand, the
Arabs are very difficult in their choice OF
a stud horse, and if they cannot lind one
of pure blood, they prefer to leave their
mares unproductive rather than breed
them to common horse. To procure a
good sire they do not hesitate to travel
any distance. The preceding has already
intimated to you my conclusion that the
sire has more to do with the foal than the
dam, and my own conclusion is identical
with the universal opinion of the Arabs
They say, the foal follows the sire "
From the above it seems that the Arab:
have learned that there is less danger
from breeding from defective dams thar
from unsOund or imperfect sires. The
above is not the mere opinion of theorist
but is conclusion deduced from an ex
perence of ages, and is worthy the care
full consideration of every young breeder
1t is not advisable to encourage the
practice of breeding from unsound OF
blemished mares, yet some of that class
are naturally so far superior to the aver
age animal that it will pay to take the
chances on their produce. The dam OF
Johnston (pacer, 06D, it will be remem
bered, was cripple, yet she enjoys the
honor of having produced the fastest an
imal by the records to single harness tina
ever appeared upon a race course
The dam of AleXander's Abdallah was
lame from an injury to one forefoot, bu
no other stallion yet foaled, excepting
his own sire, Rysdyk's Hambletonian, il
credited with as many sons and daughter!
grandsons and granddaughter, either il
the 2 80 or 2 20 list, as the son of this Grip
pied mare. The dam of Gomez (2:l9t
would be discarded by most breeders O.
to-day on account of ringbones. Most
if not all, of her foals were sound, anC
one proved the fastest, gamest trottel
ever got by Daniel Lambert.
In 1865 the proprietor of WOODBURY.
Farm bred blind daughter of MambrinC
Chief to Alexander's Norman, then own
ed at WOODBURY.. That season this mare
was offered among lot of other stock a